A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Gender-specific associations between the dimensions of alexithymia personality trait and dental anxiety in parents of the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study
Authors: Karukivi Max, Suominen Auli, Scheinin Noora M, Li Ru, Ahrnberg Hanna, Rantavuori Kari, Karlsson Hasse, Karlsson Linnea, Lahti Satu
Publisher: WILEY
Publication year: 2022
Journal: European Journal of Oral Sciences
Journal name in source: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES
Journal acronym: EUR J ORAL SCI
Article number: ARTN e12830
Volume: 130
Issue: 1
Number of pages: 10
ISSN: 0909-8836
eISSN: 1600-0722
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eos.12830
Web address : https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eos.12830
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/68023618
We evaluated gender-specific associations of two dimensions of dental anxiety (anticipatory and treatment-related dental anxiety) with three dimensions of alexithymia: difficulty in identifying feelings, difficulty in describing feelings, and externally oriented thinking. The sample comprised 2558 parents from the general population participating in the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. Dental anxiety was measured with the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale and alexithymia with the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Associations between dental anxiety and alexithymia dimensions were modelled using linear regression analysis adjusting for general anxiety and depressive symptoms, age, and education. Structural equation modeling assessed their interrelationships. In women, anticipatory dental anxiety was associated only with difficulty in identifying feelings, but treatment-related dental anxiety was associated with difficulty in identifying feelings, difficulty in describing feelings, and externally oriented thinking. In men, anticipatory dental anxiety was associated with only externally oriented thinking, whereas treatment-related dental anxiety was associated with difficulty in describing feelings, and with externally oriented thinking. Structural equation modelling showed that difficulty in identifying feelings was associated with anticipatory and treatment-related dental anxiety in women, whereas in men, only difficulty in describing feelings was associated with both types of dental anxiety. Anticipatory and treatment-related dental anxiety have different associations with alexithymia dimensions.
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